Join our Social Media Specialist Sam Long as she learns to enjoy the kitchen! Since the beginning of the year, she has embarked on following healthy new recipes from scratch and documented the journey on the Liberty HealthShare blog. In today's post, Sam tries a refreshing and guilt-free summer drink!

At the beginning of the year, our Social Media Specialist Sam Long resolved to begin a new journey of learning to enjoy the kitchen. She has written a blog series over the last several months about following healthy recipes and cooking from scratch. Join her on her most recent quest to conquer the world of quinoa, and enjoy a sweet bonus recipe in honor of Independence Day!

From time to time, a member reaches out to us with a particular perspective and an offer to share his or her knowledge with fellow members. This was the case with Marcia W., a member and chef from New Jersey who was gracious enough to pass along some information on her experience of eating "close to the earth," along with a recipe for our readers to try. We followed up with Marcia and asked her to share a little bit more about how her philosophy regarding food relates to her Liberty HealthShare membership.

It's amazing what a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup can do for a person when they are sick. Even just saying the words "chicken noodle soup" somehow magically makes the immune system perk up. After a few weeks of traveling, inconsistent sleep, and everyday stress, I was bound to attract any germs that were floating around waiting to attack a vulnerable immune system.

This Is For The Gluten-Free Folks!
I think it's safe to say that we all know at least one person in our life that has decided to follow a gluten-free or a low-carb diet. Many individuals who choose this path do so because of a medical concern but there are also those who see an overall health benefit to eating this way. I, myself, do not have a medical reason to eat gluten-free, nor have I adopted a low-carb lifestyle, but I do know there are members of Liberty HealthShare who do. In an effort to connect with all of our members, this recipe is for you!

I would like to take a minute to thank the people of 1800's Naples for creating a wonderful, round, cheese-covered piece of deliciousness called pizza. Everyone has their favorite kind of pizza and mine happens to be the Margherita. Featuring large pieces of mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil, the Margherita pizza was named after Queen Margherita in the late 1800's. You could say this style of pizza is fit for a queen.

The winter blues are no joke. The sky is grey, the trees are bare and the constant thoughts about spring weather consume our days. Subzero temperatures, icy roads, and dreary weather are sure to bring even the happiest person down in the dumps. So what can you do when you're stuck inside and feeling blue? Throw on an apron and get yourself in the kitchen!

Below is part 1 of a new blog series written by Sam, Liberty HealthShare's Social Media Specialist, as she tackles her new year's resolution to make meals from scratch. Follow her journey as she steps outside the microwavable, frozen meal box, and creates some healthy habits along the way.

Hello there! My name is Sam and I am a new member of the Liberty HealthShare community. I was also recently hired at Liberty as Social Media Specialist. I will now insert an obvious social media plug: if you have not followed us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest, please do so now!

Hi there! Thanks for joining us. We’ve spent the last few weeks exploring ways you can pursue and increase your health as temperatures drop, and we’re continuing that blog series today. So far, we have touched on ways you can stay active outdoors and indoors. We have also shared recipes for winter squash, cruciferous vegetables, grains and baked goods, and soups and stews. We’re wrapping up the seasonal eating portion of this series today, but stay tuned as we’ll move on to discuss maintaining mental and emotional health as temperatures drop and days get shorter.
We love summer for so many reasons, not least of which is the fact that cooking operations can be moved outside. You can’t beat that grilled flavor, plus it’s always nice to be able to avoid heating up the kitchen by using a range or oven. But it’s fall now, and apart from some brave souls, most people move meal prep back indoors. Fortunately, oven-roasting achieves similar results, yielding foods that are low in calories and big on flavor.

Hi there! If you are just joining us, we are midway through a blog series on health during colder weather. We’ve already talked about pursuing fitness through outdoor and indoor activities, and we’ve also covered ideas for eating seasonally with winter squash, cruciferous vegetables, and baked goods. Keep checking back here for more recipes and tips for protecting and increasing your mental and emotional health as the days grow shorter and colder.
Healthy eating influencers often tout the benefits of eating seasonally. By thi,s they mean eating those things that are in season in your part of the world; those fruits and vegetables that can reasonably be considered fresh. But if you live in a part of the country where temperatures are on a downward trend right now, the list of things that are “in season” is shrinking by the day.

Thanks for joining us! We’re about halfway through a blog series on ways to prioritize your health during the fall and winter. So far we’ve detailed some ideas for both indoor and outdoor exercise as well as seasonal eating tips using winter squash and cruciferous vegetables. Keep checking back for more recipes and additional tips on keeping yourself mentally and emotionally healthy throughout the autumn months.
During the autumn, bread and pastries infused with cinnamon, caramel, and pumpkin (just to name a few flavors) are on display at every bakery, coffee shop, and café. At home, Thanksgiving tables groan under bread and pies, and we start baking cookies because after all, this is the time of year for it. There’s no denying these baked goods are a delicious way to celebrate the season, but indulging has its consequences.

Welcome! If you’re just joining us, you have arrived in the middle of a blog series on improving and maintaining your health during the fall and winter. We’ve already covered some ideas for staying active in colder weather, both indoors and outdoors, as well as recipes for winter squash. Stay tuned for more delicious seasonal recipes and ways to protect your mental and emotional health as the days get shorter.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and everywhere you look, comfort foods will start to threaten your best intentions. Before you give up on being able to have the things you love, we’d like to suggest redefining comfort food to mean flavorful and satisfying, rather than fattening.

Over the next several months, we're covering a variety of ways to maintain your health during the colder months. We've already looked at some fun ways you and your family can keep moving both outdoors and indoors. Looking ahead, keep an eye out for seasonal recipes and tips for supporting your emotional and mental health as temperatures drop.
You’re trying to get or stay on-track during the fall. Does that mean the delicious flavors of the season are off-limits? Not at all! A surefire way to keep sugar and fat consumption under control is to simply plan ahead.

Have you ever shopped at a Farmer's Market? Not since the beginning of the industrial revolution has farm-to-table been a more meaningful phrase. Buying directly from a farmer means you are purchasing the freshest local products available while supporting a small business. It's good for you, your health, and your local economy!

Ladies, do you want to make your Valentine happy and also keep him healthy? Gentlemen, do you want to earn bonus points with a romantic and healthy meal for your Valentine?
Are you afraid I’m going to say chicken? A salad with low-fat, low-calorie dressing? Grilled fish with a spritz of lemon juice? Think again. Healthy doesn’t have to mean boring.

Now that November has arrived, we are well into pumpkin season. If you want, you can find pumpkin coffee, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, even pumpkin pasta! Pumpkin is everywhere, and especially on the dessert table. If you're watching what you eat (and I hope you are!), there are plenty of ways to make a pumpkin dessert that will scratch your dessert itch without sabotaging your healthy efforts.
Here is a quick and easy recipe that will satisfy your sweet tooth!

Autumn - what a beautiful and enjoyable time of the year. Leaves are changing their colors, football games are being played or watched, and outside, the temperature is beginning to change. It is a reminder for us that it’s time to prepare for winter AND time to get out the big soup pot.